‘Diabetes Smart’ – for people with Type 2 diabetes

Kieran O'Leary, CEO, Diabetes Ireland with Sinead Powell, Senior Dietitian, Diabetes Ireland and Owen Treacy from Novo Nordisk, unveil 'Diabetes Smart', a free online education programme for people living with Type 2 diabetes. With GPs and the health system currently heavily overstretched, this programme will provide health care providers with an educational tool they can refer their Type 2 patients to so they can learn about their condition and how to manage it more effectively. (Picture: Robbie Reynolds)

A free interactive online education platform has been launched to meet the increasing demand for supports from people with Type 2 diabetes who want to learn more about their condition and how to manage it effectively.

Due to the significant burden placed on GPs and the healthcare system over the last two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic, many people with Type 2 diabetes have not had regular review appointments with their GP or their diabetes team.

Diabetes Smart, developed by Diabetes Ireland with support from Novo Nordisk, will now give those diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes the opportunity to educate themselves about their condition and how to manage it effectively, no matter how long they have been living with the condition.

The programme has been developed by diabetes healthcare professionals to support a busy lifestyle and participants can pause their interactive learning at any stage of the journey and resume with ease.

It is a great educational tool for GPs and health professionals to promote to their patients. It is estimated that 266,664 people live with diabetes in Ireland and of those, 234,398 live with Type 2 diabetes.

The Diabetes Smart programme contains six interactive modules, covering topics that explains what diabetes is, understanding the key medical information such as blood glucose levels, managing illness, and provides lots of tips on healthy eating and getting active.

The course can be completed whenever and wherever suits can be paused, and continued at any time, and is accessible via a laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. 

This online resource is available 24/7, giving the participant the freedom to avail of this programme at any stage of their journey. 

Take a step to protect your health today and visit Diabetes Smart Online at www.diabeteseducation.ie to find out how you can manage Type 2 diabetes or learn more about how to support someone living with this chronic condition.